Cultural Arts Grants

The City of Elgin's Cultural Arts Commission offers three grant programs to help encourage and support arts related projects, exhibits and performances within Elgin. Details about funding assistance for each program is available in their respective applications.

Individual Artist Grant

The Elgin Cultural Arts Commission (ECAC) Individual Artist Grant Program is designed to encourage and support innovative and unique arts-related projects and performances within the City of Elgin. This grant program offers grant awards of up to $1,000.00 which are for arts programs, projects and events. Examples include an arts show organized by an artist, a musical or dramatic program, storytelling, performance art, street theater, a poetry reading, mime or puppetry. Funding assistance may include requests for startup costs related to a project such as: rental of space or equipment, purchase of supplies or equipment, or other project-related materials. Applications are reviewed by the ECAC at their monthly meetings, held on the second Monday of each month. Applications are due on the first Monday of the month, and applicants are requried to attend the ECAC's meeting to present their applications. For more specifics, view the application.

Organizational Grant

Elgin-based arts organizations that are Illinois registered not-for-profits are eligible to apply for the yearly Organizational Grants offered by the ECAC. This grant program offers grant awards of up to $8,500.00 which are for arts programs, projects and events, rather than general operations costs. For examples of previously funded Organizational Grant programs, see the list of 2018 Organizational Grant Recipients. Applications go live in August and are due in October of the year prior to the year of the program. The ECAC votes on applications in November with a final vote in December, after which a recommendation is made to City Council for funding. Following final City Council approval or denial, organizations are notified of approval or denial and award amounts. For more specifics, view the application. Applications for 2019 are now closed.

Neighborhood Public Art Grant

This program allows communities to have a voice in the art located in their neighborhood, focusing on the placemaking. Interested neighborhood organizations can apply for a grant to purchase or commission work for their neighborhood. Not only does this increase the public art in Elgin, it also gives individual neighborhoods a sense of ownership and a voice in their community. This grant program offers funding up to $3,250 for 3D artwork. Neighborhood organizations must be registered 501(c)3 organizations and reside within the city limits of Elgin. Funding will be available only up to fifty percent of the cost of the project. For more specifics, view the application. Applications for 2019 projects are now live and are due May 6, 2019 at 4pm.